Set an Example
Don’t lord it over the people assigned to your care, but lead them by your own good example. And when the Great Shepherd appears, you will receive a crown of never-ending glory and honor. —1 Peter 5:3–4
There is a place for growing up, but there is also a place for being childlike, and I think one of the best ways to stay childlike is to be around children. I love to be around children of all ages, especially my grandchildren. My wife and I are always ready to whisk them off to lunch or some other activity. We love to be around them. It is so fun. If you can have children around you, it is a wonderful thing.
In the same way, having young believers around can really help us spiritually. They need us, and we need them. Young believers need us for our stability and maturity as followers of Jesus Christ. And we need them because they have a sense of excitement as they are discovering the truths of God for the first time. We need each other.
Jesus gave the Great Commission to “go and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit” and to “teach these new disciples to obey all the commands I have given you” (Matthew 28:19–20).
You may not want young believers around you because you feel that you would not be a good example. Then change. Don’t be a stumbling block; be a stepping stone. Be a good example. Don’t rationalize disobedience. Think about your example. Everyone has their shortcomings. If you mess up, then admit that you messed up. And then seek to be an example to others and bring them to Christ.
Our job description as followers of Jesus is to seek out lost sheep, try to win them to Christ, take them under our wing, help them get on their feet spiritually, and go out and repeat the process again and again and again.
Summary sentence: You are an example: either a stumbling block or stepping stone—which are you?
Copyright © 2011 by Harvest Ministries. All rights reserved.
Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright 1996, 2004. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Wheaton, Illinois 60189. All rights reserved.
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